Washington D.C. – On Monday, Representative Michael Cloud (R-TX) toured the Matagorda Ship Channel to receive an update on the Matagorda Ship Channel Deepening and Widening Project. 

Congress authorized the Matagorda Ship Channel Deepening and Widening Project in 2020. This is a project that is critically important for safety – it will deepen and widen the Matagorda Ship Channel to allow larger vessels to safely travel in and out of the channel, which is very difficult under the present infrastructure because of the currents. 

Before Congress authorizes such projects, the Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies conduct several reviews of a proposed project, including an environmental impact statement (EIS). Unfortunately, even though the EIS for the Matagorda Ship Channel was already completed ahead of the project’s authorization in 2020, the Army Corps rescinded the Record of Decision for the project and claimed that the EIS needed to be reworked. To rescind the Record of Decision will place this critical project on hold for several years.  

Representative Cloud has repeatedly pressed the Army Corps about their decision, as well as pushed for included  language in the FY 2024 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill that would require the Army Corps to provide an update on the deepening and widening project and next steps on the project within 60 days.

Representative Cloud remains committed to ensuring that that the SEIS is expedited, and that the deepening and widening project remains a top priority for the Army Corps. 

Representative Cloud released the following statement:

“We have a Congressionally-approved expansion project that’s being held up by this administration’s arbitrary permitting process,” Representative Cloud said. “Widening and deepening the Matagorda Ship Channel is essential to job growth and prosperity in Texas’ 27th district. The community of Port Lavaca should not have to take the heat for the federal government’s mistakes and unnecessary delays. I’m pressing to get this project going which will greatly benefit our district, bringing a huge boost to economic growth while also strengthening our energy independence and our national security.

Touring the Matagorda Ship Channel

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